Laid Off Mondays Blow

Seriously, WTF?

I think I've been doing fairly well since being laid off in June. I've been very productive, both personally and as much as possible professionally. I've been on job interviews, I've been networking my heart out, I've been getting things done around my world.

Every Monday I wake up having accomplished a ton of things the previous week, having had a full weekend, and wanting to plow through an ambitious list of things to do. Only to find I'm roaring with anxiety or wallowing in melancholy.

Then Tuesday I wake up and it's gone and I'm off to the races again. It's 8am, and I've been working since 5:30am.

I think the negativity comes when it's Monday morning and I'm not heading off to work. I really like working for the man, it seems. I've had a smattering of miscellaneous free-lance opportunities come my way, and truth be told, it's not for me. I fight feeling scattered and unfocused, and I think trying to construct a life of disconnected income situations would only exacerbate that.

No, I am an executive assistant, I am a blogger, I could be something webby like an online community manager, and I am a director. I don't want any more professional titles than that, and I want someone to work for, and I want a paycheck I can count on.

I think it's also that my New Year's resolution was no new debt, and the tide is quickly beginning to turn on that one. I can't throw caution and my life to the wind. It's all on me, and I intend to be here for a while. Which means that I have to try to mind my finances and at least try to have a positive net worth before I die. When I think about sliding backwards again, I just want to die. And yet, things have come up that I don't want to miss and that I think will be good for me to attend, careerwise, so here I go again. I'm trying to make the best decisions I can and somehow not let this time suck another year from me in either missed opportunities or debt that's going to backslide me by the years it will take to catch back up to where I am now.

Time and money. Time and money. If you have them, and you aren't being all you can be, I'm here to tell you that you suck. Get off your ass and use your advantages.

I typed this early yesterday morning as my status update: "Up and at 'em this fine Monday morning. It's going to be a great week! Much to do."

Well, it *is* going to be a great week. But I'm glad the Monday part is over.

Comments

[Donna]

If it's any consolation - I think the recession is making Mondays tougher for everyone, even those who have thus far escaped getting laid off (and therefore are picking up the slack because there are fewer colleagues to share the work). My husband and I were both feeling the same way as you yesterday... and today -- well, I have more energy (don't know about him yet).

Hang tough. Try not to think too hard about the money stuff. There are good things happening in your future and you will overcome whatever you've had to do to survive this nasty little period.

[lizriz]

Thanks, Donna! I am feeling much more up and at 'em today. :)

[apricoco]

I know how much Mondays suck when you've been laid off. I've been there and slept till noon on Mondays just to avoid it. I know you will find work again, you are too plucky to be kept down. I'll keep sending good vibes your way.

And to your time and money point.. I finally took some initiative (who knew I had that?) and used my TIME to go back to school. I quit my moderately low-paying but high-stress job and am using the MONEY I have to my advantage. I don't have forever, and if I don't do it now, then I'm probably not going to do it, ever. I'm going to your (undergrad) Alma Mater FAU and school after 30 is such a different experience. So I take your time and money point to heart..

[Ian]

Free lance is the future. Adjust or drown.

[lizriz]

Thank you, and good for you for going back to school. I hope that's going well. I drove around FAU while I was in Florida, and it has changed A LOT! :)

I'll take all the good vibes! I've started setting my alarm on weekdays so I'm sure I'm getting up and getting to it.

[lizriz]

If freelance is the future, we're going to need a better health care system.

I am, though, currently exploring a full-time freelance opportunity thanks to the Cobra subsidy which will hold until March for me. If the situation works out, I will be a freelancer! But doing just the one freelance gig (well, plus the blogging). What I don't want to do is many different gigs that have nothing to do which each other and still don't cover my bills.